Myakkabelle in search of elusive stakes scalp

[Wandering Eyes]

Myakkabelle performed with distinction in her three-year-old season, but a stakes win eluded the Ben and Ryan Foote-trained mare.

She won two and placed in six of her 10 starts last term, including placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), and Gr.2 David & Karym Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m).

“Her three-year-old season was good without a lot of luck,” Ryan Foote said. “From a wide draw she had to get back in the Oaks, which made it a bit hard.

“We have given her a good break and she seems to have come back really well.”

The daughter of Ware Decree placed in her resuming trial over 1300m at Ellerslie on Tuesday and Foote received positive feedback from jockey Vinnie Colgan.

“She was just there for a day out yesterday,” Foote said. “We were very happy with her trial and the way she came through it. Vinnie was very happy with how she went and how she felt.

“She is a horse that doesn’t show a lot in her trials, but she looks to be in for a good prep after yesterday.”

Myakkabelle holds a nomination for next month’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and is 14^th in order of entry for the Ellerslie feature.

“It might be a season too early for her (for the Livamol) but we thought we would put a nom in just in case she comes up very well,” Foote said.

“At the end of a big three-year-old season sometimes the mares can be a bit funny at the start of their four-year-old season, so we will see how she goes.”

Foote was also pleased with the trial of stablemate The Odyssey in his 1300m heat, and he is hopeful of a big spring from the Zacinto gelding.

“He has never been a horse to light up at the trials,” Foote said. “Vinnie was happy with how he felt. He is one to look out for when he gets up to 2000m.”

The Odyssey won the inaugural $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) last year before going on to place in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), and Foote would like to see him score another feature scalp this time in.

“We have given him a lot of time,” he said. “He hasn’t had that many starts, and he is a six-year-old now, so he is fully matured and ready to go, so it would be nice to see him come up well.”

Former stable runner Greenwich has returned to the Footes Cambridge barn following a couple of years in Hong Kong and they were happy enough with his 1100m hit-out on Tuesday.

He won both of his trials for the Footes as a two-year-old before his sale to Hong Kong, where he won two races and nearly $430,000 in prizemoney, and they are delighted to have him back in the barn.

“We had him early on and sold him up to Hong Kong,” Foote said. “He was a very good galloper and he seems to have come back the same.

“He is a really big, well-conditioned horse and he was only there for a very quiet trial yesterday. He is still slightly on the bigger side, so he will look to have another trial and will be more competitive next time.”

Foote was also pleased with the respective 1100m trials of Yulong Investments’ trio of Azeele, Lough Eske and Judicial.

“All three of them are quite cool horses and they seem to have come back really well,” he said.

“We have given them a few weeks off in the paddock and they have come back in with a lot more life about them. I am really happy with the three of them.”

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